``We reached an agreement that we need to maintain the regulations on the operating hours,'' a committee member said. ``We considered student's health as a key factor in the decision.''

The council originally sought to liberalize the operating hours of private tutoring institutes as many hagwon open until past midnight despite the rules. They pointed out that the lack of law enforcement officials also makes the rules virtually useless in practice.

But the council changed its position after strong protest from civic groups and parents. Even President Lee Myung-bak reacted negatively to the move.

Despite its succumbing to public protest, the city council still wants the issue to be discussed further at public hearings.

The council's educational committee last week passed a municipal ordinance to abolish limitations on business hours at private cram schools as part of deregulation to provide more freedom to private business sectors.

Parents raised concerns that the move would force students to study all night, resulting in health risks, as well as pose a threat to the public education system.

In the face of protests, the committee decided to put it to a vote. They voted for the amendment to the ordinance to restrict hagwon business hours to 10 p.m. Of 89 council members, 70 voted for the revised amendment and 19 against, according to the council.